Original source.As it says in the title, the Asuka is a ship whose sole purpose is to test Japanese naval technologies. She is not derived from another class, but is built from the ground up for the role, and is designed so that various experimental systems can be installed or removed with relative ease.The most notable of these technologies has been the FCS-3 radar and fire control system (also known as the Type 0 Fire Control System), which is roughly comparable to the American-made Aegis system. The main differences between the Aegis and the FCS-3 is that the former uses a set of S-band passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radars, and the latter uses a set of C-band active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars. S-band radars are said to have superior overall detection range and bad weather performance, while the C-band is better at detecting low-altitude targets, lends itself to better electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) by having a broader frequency range, and can be installed on smaller ships because it does not require antennas that are as large.Japan already operates the Aegis system on its Kongō- and Atago-class destroyers mainly for the purpose of ballistic missile defense, but it also developed the FCS-3 to be used for more general purposes. It was originally supposed to make its debut on either one of the later Murasame-class ships or the following Takanami-class, but the system was delayed and ultimately entered service with the Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer. A greatly upgraded version was later installed on the Akizuki-class, and another modified variant will be installed on the new Izumo-class helicopter destroyers by the time they enter service. It will continue to be the eyes of Japanese warships in the foreseeable future.Asuka was also the testbed for a new hybrid propulsion system called a COGLAG (COmbined Gas turbine eLectric And Gas turbine), which among other benefits is supposed to be much more fuel efficient, allowing for greater range than conventional gas turbine engines. The COGLAG is set to be the powerplant for the new 5000t-class "25DD" destroyer that was announced last year, which is supposed to be launched around 2018. I believe this type of propulsion system has also been considered for future variants of the US Navy's Arleigh Burke-class.She also has an 8-cell Mk. 41 VLS system installed for the testing of the Type 07 vertically-launched anti-submarine rocket, Japan's replacement for the American-made VL-ASROC, and also a triple-tubed torpedo launcher for testing the new Type 12 torpedo.In addition, she has various sonars, jammers, and decoys in her resume of tested systems, plus probably many more that are not publicly known. This year, she is to be installed with a new X-band radar that will be an add-on to the FCS-3 system, in preparation for the 25DD destroyer.The JS Asuka is named after the Asuka region (in modern day Nara Prefecture), that was the center of the historical era known as the Asuka Period (592–710). The word tentatively means "flying bird", but its true origins remain unknown. It's one of those names that pops up often in Japanese culture, and many places, people, and vehicles, etc, have been borne it.Although a relatively recent ship, being commissioned in 1995, the JS Asuka holds the distinction of being the first JMSDF ship to have female crew members.

Hull systems: Propulsion plant is bridge controlled and drives the propellers at low rpm to reduce radiated noise. The hull has special vibration-damping structures in the vicinity of the very large sonar array, which occupies a 40m long sonar dome extending beneath the ship's keel as far aft as the tower mainmast. An air-bubbler system is also installed. Has provision for female crewmembers. Fin stabilizers and a helicopter haul-down and traversing system are fitted. The hanger can accommodate an SH-60J helicopter.

Combat systems: Conducts trials with surface warfare systems including the FCS-3 radar weapons-control system, which can track 10 targets simultaneously and employs four plannar arrays to cover 360°; the XAAM-4 vertically launched SAM; the Canadian Davis "Dres Ball" infrared stack emission suppression system; the ASO self-propelled ASW target; the S-10 underwater navigation system; the K-RX2 ASW mine; composite armor; and radar-absorbent coatings. Has also conducted trials with infrared surveillance equipment and torpedo countermeasures systems. Provision was made for the installation of an 8-cell Mk 41 vertical missile launch system forward, but it has not yet been fitted.*

MELBOURNE, Australia — Japan has denied reports speculating that it had test-fired a new supersonic air-launched anti-ship missile last week, although a test-firing is still on the cards for later this year.

Responding to questions from Defense News, a spokeswoman from the Japanese Ministry of Defense's Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency, or ATLA, also confirmed that it is planning to test-fire a XASM-3 missile from a Mitsubishi F-2 fighter jet at a missile range in the Gulf of Wakasa, off western Japan.

The ATLA spokeswoman was unable to provide a more specific date other than that it will be sometime in fiscal 2017 fiscal, which in Japan runs from April 1 of this year to March 31, 2018, saying that it would depend on the progress of the missile's development program as well as weather and sea conditions.

However, ATLA tender documents indicate that it is seeking flight test control and telemetry relay equipment specifically for the monitoring and recording of flight test data for the XASM-3 against an "offshore target" to be delivered in late April 2017, which suggests that any live firing will occur only in late May or early June at the earliest.

The recent reports of a possible test firing were sparked by images of an F-2 of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Air Development and Test Wing from Gifu Air Base in western Japan returning from a sortie in late February without the test missile it was carrying.

The same aircraft had been photographed earlier in the day carrying the missile, which given no launch occurred would indicate that a stores separation test had been carried out as a precursor to a live firing. Japan has carried out a number of modifications to the decommissioned destroyer Shirane in preparation to being the XASM-3's first target.

The XASM-3 is a ramjet-powered anti-ship missile being developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries with a reported maximum speed in excess of Mach 3 and a range of between 94 and 125 miles. The missile measures 17 feet long, and target guidance in the terminal stage will be by active radar homing or passive radar guidance (home-on-jam).